Micah Parsons discusses toxic offseason after Packers' Week 1 win

"These last six months was super draining, super toxic for everyone," Parsons told reporters on Sunday. "It's something that I don't think no player should have to go through. I think players' fates should be decided earlier, and the fact that I was traded a week before the season was really outrageous and rough. It's something where I could've been with these guys getting better and better, and we could've had probably [an] even more dominant start."

Green Bay traded for Parsons at the end of August, sending two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Cowboys. They also gave Parsons the record-setting contract he was looking for, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league with a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million fully guaranteed.

Parsons was selected 12th overall by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL draft and went on to become a cornerstone of the team. In his first four years in the league, Parsons recorded 52.5 sacks, which is the 6th most sacks in a player's first four seasons. 

And yet, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was adamant about not negotiating with Parsons' agent and held firm on the money he was willing to give the 26-year-old. 

It became a strange situation where the infamous 82-year-old team owner went on a media tour to explain why he wouldn't budge. This led to an odd — and admittedly funny — scene in the Cowboys' final preseason game. Parsons arrived at the locker room on gameday, eating AT&T Stadium nachos, and took a nap on the trainer's table on the sidelines. 

Micah Parsons ready to move forward with Packers

Suffice to say, Parsons wasn't doing much work on the football field until his contract situation was solved. So, it's not surprising that the limited practice time with the Packers led to Parsons being on the field for just 29 of the 65 defensive snaps on Sunday, according to ESPN NFL Nation Packers reporter Rob Demovsky.

Still, Parsons recorded his first sack with the team, and his presence helped the rest of the defense make the Packers look like serious championship contenders.

"I'm just happy that's behind [me]," Parsons said. "These guys embraced me. They believe in my talents. They believed in me, and I'm just gonna give these guys everything I have because I know what's at stake and I know what they gave up for me to be here, and I'mma do what it takes to win."

With the media circus of the offseason over, Parsons can do what he does best and terrorize opposing offenses. He'll just be doing that in green and yellow from now on.